| Lesson 3; Healing and protective spells | |
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| Topic Started: Mar 8 2005, 04:24 PM (120 Views) | |
| Dark Mistress | Mar 8 2005, 04:24 PM Post #1 |
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HoM Professor/DE Leader
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Lesson 3 Healing and Protective Spells of Ancient Egypt Once again you find yourself surrounded by ancient relics. You take out your parchment and quills and wait patiently for your instructor to arrive. As the tomb door opens she once again seats herself in front of the class. Welcome to lesson 3, today’s topic of discussion will be on healing and protection spells used during ancient Egyptian times. I hope you all have been taking good notes for your exam will be coming soon upon completion of our chapter studies on Egyptian magic. Let us first discuss healing spells. Incantations were written on papyrus, which contained the spells used by doctors, Sekhmet priest, and scorpion charmers. These spells were written in order to target the spirit being believed to be causing the illness. Knowing the name of the spirit being gave the magician powers to act against them. Demons were thought to be attracted to foul things; they were sometimes exercised from the body by these methods. 1. Spreading of dung near the body. 2. Spreading of honey on the body. 3. Drawing an image of a deity on the body. Many healing spells included reciting stories over the body. This method was used so that doctors, who were treating the patient, may relate to the character in the story making the spell more powerful. Example: Thoth, the god of magical knowledge healed the wounded eye of Horus. Acting out the story of Thoth and Horus would insure a recovery for their patients. Collections of healing spells were sometimes inscribed on stone slabs and statues for public use. There was a stone statue of King Ramesses III (c. 1184-1153 bc) in the desert, which had spells to banish snakes and cure snakebites written upon it. A type of magic stela, known as the Cippus, always shows the infant god Horus overcoming dangerous animals and reptiles. Some of the inscriptions on the Cippus tell the story of how an enemy poisoned Horus, and how Isis his mother pleaded for her son’s life. The story ends with the promise that anyone who suffers will be healed. Pouring water over the Cippus could access the powers. The patient consumed the magic water, and their wounds or illness would be washed away. Our next topic of discussion will be on the protection spells of ancient Egypt. Angry deities, jealous ghost, demons, and sorcerers, were thought to be the cause of misfortune such as illness, accidents, poverty, and infertility. Magic was the ultimate defense against these misfortunes. To drive away the evil spirits, stamping, shouting, and making loud noises with rattles, drums, and tambourines were used. Some ivory wands were used to draw protective circles around those who might be vulnerable, such as women giving birth. The magician to help protect the mother and child from dangerous forces engraved the wands with dangerous symbols of beings. The evil forces were represented as demons and snakes. Supernatural fighters, such as the lion-dwarf Bes and the hippo Goddess Taweret were craved on furniture and household items. Their job was to protect the home from evil presences during the night when the house hold inhabitants were said to be most vulnerable, and evil spirits were felt very strongly. Depictions of Bes and Taweret were also found on amulets. Egyptians of all walks of life were seen wearing protective amulets. Most took the form of powerful deities, animals, royal names or symbols upon them. Other amulets were worn to give the owner desired qualities, such as a long life, prosperity, and good health. Now that we have discussed healing and protective spells we will move on to another famous magician of ancient Egypt. Setna son of Ramesses was the most learned man in Egypt. He was a great scholar able to read old writings and decipher most ancient tablets. He was also a great magician; he learned the magical art from the secret texts not even the Priest of Amen Ra could read. Reading the writings and listening the stories, he would make copies for his father’s library. One day he came across a scroll that told about another Pharaohs son Nefrekeptah, the son of Amenhotep. He lived almost 300 years ago, being the mightiest magician of his time. He became great because he had acquired the knowledge hidden within the “Book of Thoth” , Setna decided that he wanted the book for himself. He learned that the “Book of Thoth”, was buried in the tomb of Nefrekeptah at the Memphis Necropolis. Setna and his brother Anheru set off and found the tomb. Being of royalty they were allowed entrance into the tomb. The “Book of Thoth” was lying upon the chest of Nefrekeptah. Next to the tomb were two chairs with the spirits of a man and women sitting upon them. The women said to Setna, that if he removed the book then the curses that plagued Nefrekeptah in his life would also follow him. Great sorrow will follow you throughout your life. Not taking the advice of the spirit he took the book and returned to Memphis. Reading the book he learned all the secrets held within the scroll. He became the most powerful and knowledgeable magician of his time. One day while walking he met a beautiful Goddess. He was so taken with her, that he forgot about his wife and children. She told him that in order for him to marry her, he would have to divorce his wife and sacrifice his children. So he did, and when he met the Goddess on the day of their wedding, he hugged her. She transformed into a grotesque corpse. The shock brought him out of what he now found to be a nightmare. Being so shaken by the dream he decided to return the book. Upon doing so Nefrekeptah told him that he would have to perform one more task to lift the curse completely. He told him he would have to return the bodies of Nefrekeptah wife and son to him, so they may all be together for eternity. Setna set off on his quest, recovered the remains of Nefrekeptah’s family and brought them back to Memphis to be given a royal burial next to Nefrekeptah. Inside the tomb the Spirit women smiled at him, he was released from the curse. Short answer questions: Please answer in full sentences and in your own words. Each question is worth 2 pts a piece. Only questions answered in full sentences will receive credit. 1. Who were the ancient Egyptians that used the healing spells written upon the papyrus and why? 2. What was written on the stone statue of Ramessess III? 3. What is always found on the magic stela called the Cippus? 4. What did the ancient Egyptians feel was the ultimate defense against misfortune? 5. What was the purpose of the ivory wands? 6. What are some of the methods and tools used to drive away evil spirits and add protection? 7. What did magicians do to protect a mother and child from evil beings? 8. Who were the two Goddesses engraved on furniture and household items? What was their purpose? 9. What images did the amulets worn by Egyptians resemble? 10. Where did Setna find the “Book Of Thoth”? 11. What would happen to Setna if he took the book from it’s resting place? 12. In order to break the curse what two things did Setna have to do? 13. Where was Nefrekeptah’s tomb located? Essay Question: We have just heard the short version of Setna’s myth. Setna also had a 12-year-old son Se-Osiris. Se-Osiris was said to be the youngest and most powerful magician of his time. Listed below is the website containing the story of Se-Osiris, and how he rose to greatness. I want you to read the story and tell me what events lead to Se Osiris becoming the youngest and most powerful magician of his time. The essay should be 50 words minimum. I’m looking for quality and not quantity. http://egyptianmyths.net/mythsealletr.htm This essay is now worth 30 pts if you chose to attempt it. Due to length and time it will take to complete it, I will not make this part of your original assignment but an extra credit assignment for house points. Posted Image Magic Stela Posted Image Horus and Bes are depicted on this Cippus |
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| Lexi | Mar 12 2005, 07:13 PM Post #2 |
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Headmistress/Gryffindor Head of House
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Elsbeth Gryffindor [size=7]Excellent work as always! 26 pts awarded to Gryffindor[/size] Second half may be done at your leisure. |
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| Cottonmouth | Mar 17 2005, 09:02 PM Post #3 |
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Graduated
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Cottonmouth Slytherin [size=7]You were really paying attention in class. Excellent effort shown by slytherin. Full Marks 26 pts to Slytherin.[/size] |
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| Ellen Nelle | Mar 22 2005, 10:07 AM Post #4 |
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3rd Year
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Ellen Nelle Ravenclaw [size=7] Nice work! Full Marks 26pts to Ravenclaw! Yes you may do the extra credit later, just post it her and I will add to your total score. May I do the extra credit once I catch up in the lessons?[/size] |
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| Samantha_Malfoy | Mar 28 2005, 12:13 AM Post #5 |
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Graduated
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samantha slytherin [size=7] Full Marks 26pts to Slytherin[/size] |
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| bookworm92 | Mar 31 2005, 11:24 AM Post #6 |
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S.A.P.E.W./RA
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[size=7]Nice Job Bookworm! 26pts to Ravenclaw[/size] |
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